We offer this occasional series as your introduction to our volunteer advisors — just a few of your neighbors who truly make local business tick.

Bob McIntosh is a life-long Mecklenburg County resident who earned his Eagle Scout Award in Pineville, where he was raised. He received all of his education from public institutions here in North Carolina, graduating from South Mecklenburg High School and UNC Chapel Hill, both undergraduate and law school. McIntosh returned to Charlotte to start practicing law in 1988. Ninety-eight percent of his family either lives or is buried within a 35-mile radius of where he lives.

McIntosh is active in his church, Davidson United Methodist. He's been a Freemason for 28 years, and is also in the Scottish Rite and Oasis Shrine organizations. McIntosh is invested locally, and serves on several local non-profit boards — Hope House Foundation, Historic Rural Hill, the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, as well as being involved with many other local and national organizations. He is married with two wonderful children who are about to graduate and make their own way in the world.

• What three words best describe your business style?

Cautious, supportive, collaborative.

• Who are your mentors, business or otherwise, and why?

Senator Sam Ervin — he was a man of courage, honor, common sense and contemplative wisdom. I can only hope to come close to his example.

• How do you balance work, personal and leisure time?

I try to set some boundaries, but I fear that I fall short, especially with those I love.

I try to remember that all else is secondary to the people most important to my life ... those who I want around me when I die.

• What two stocks are you invested in currently, and why?

Duke Energy and Ford. Duke is a local staple and I believe in what Ford is doing.

• What advice would you give a local entrepreneurial hopeful?

Make sure your plans include operating within your means; your decisions do not need to be controlled by outside influences.

• If you had it to do over again, what professional path would you choose?

The same one, or possibly medicine. Lawyers and doctors are in unique positions of being able to impact individuals in a positive sense like few other people.

• What about being a business owner/leader makes your PULSE race?

The opportunity to impact individuals in positive ways that I would not have if I did not have my current role.

Contact McIntosh at The McIntosh Law Firm in Davidson at 704-892-1699 or visit www.mcintoshlawfirm.com.